The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic in a joint operation supported by the United Kingdom, escalating efforts to crack down on so-called “ghost fleet” vessels accused of breaching international sanctions.
US authorities said the vessel, known publicly as the Marinera but identified by American officials as Bella 1, was intercepted in the Atlantic and linked to illicit oil shipments connected to Venezuela and Iran.
The operation was confirmed by the UK Ministry of Defence, which said British forces provided support through air surveillance and a Royal Navy ship during the boarding and seizure.
The action in the Atlantic was followed by a second interdiction in the Caribbean, where US officials said another tanker was apprehended in what they described as “back-to-back” boardings of two suspected ghost fleet ships.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the seized tanker was operating under false registration and could face prosecution in the United States.
“The vessel, which US authorities are calling the Bella 1, was ‘deemed stateless after flying a false flag’,” Leavitt said.
She added that the crew could be taken to the US. “The Marinera’s crew will be brought to the US for prosecution ‘if necessary’,” she stated.
The tanker is accused of violating US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. While it has historically transported Venezuelan crude, reports indicate the ship was empty at the time of its seizure.
Russia swiftly condemned the action, disputing the US account and warning against interference with its nationals.
Moscow said the tanker was only temporarily flagged to Russia and insisted that “no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries’ jurisdictions.”
Earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry had said the United States must not hamper the return of the crew.
The seizure underscores Washington’s intensified campaign against vessels it believes are covertly moving sanctioned oil across international waters, with the UK now publicly confirming its military role in supporting the Atlantic operation.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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